Rankin: Stidham, Tigers need TDs, not FGs, in A-Day game

Jarrett Stidham (8) is the front runner to win the starting quarterback job at Auburn for the 2017 season opener

AUBURN – Jarrett Stidham’s work ethic in the film room has stood out just as much as his throwing ability this spring.

“He’s up at that office a lot on his own,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said after Saturday’s scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium. “He has that gym rat mentality. He’s real tough on himself on that kind of stuff.”

Malzahn may thrown in a gadget play or two, but expect to see plenty of Stidham. Malzahn said Sean White isn’t playing next week. Coming off a broken arm injury in the Sugar Bowl, White has been limited to 7-on-7.

I also expect the former Baylor quarterback to put the ball up quite a bit.

Malzahn said the team has thrown it more than in the previous two or three springs. New offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey is part of that equation, but Malzahn also knows Auburn must improve its passing game to truly compete for a SEC title.

So even though the Auburn defense is pretty darn good and should know what’s coming after a month of practice, Stidham needs to make plays and lead some touchdown drives next week.

Fit the ball in tight coverage. Find secondary receivers. Make the right reads. Jeremy Johnson had all the physical tools, but didn’t always make the best decisions with the ball.

Connect downfield. Give receivers a chance to make a play. Live up the hype a little bit. White has a big heart, but lacks the complete arm talent and has been injury prone.

Last year, Daniel Carlson accounted for all the A-Day scoring with five field goals.

That can’t happen again. Auburn knows the All-American can kick.

The offense scored just one touchdown in Saturday’s scrimmage against the first-team defense as linebacker Tre’ Williams picked off Stidham on a tipped ball.

That shouldn’t happen against the second-team defense next week.

Even if Auburn uses just 20 percent of its playbook, Stidham needs to make plays to give fans hope and the team confidence he can be that guy.

If he doesn’t and Malik Willis shows flashes of his potential, oooh, that’s going to make things real interesting this summer.

An early enrollee, Willis has made dynamic plays this spring that evokes memories of another dual-threat quarterback who led Auburn to its last SEC title.

“For an incoming freshman that’s still supposed to be in high school, I feel like he’s doing very good,” Auburn running back Kam Martin said. “His legs, I feel like he’s very similar to Nick Marshall. When he gets in there, he gets the job done. He might mess up a few times, but he gets the job done.”

Remember Jalen Hurts came to Alabama as an early enrollee and won his first 13 starts last season before losing to Clemson by a hair in the College Football Playoff title game.

So if Nick Saban can start a true freshman at quarterback, so can Malzahn at Auburn.

“No 14 has really impressed me with way he just runs around,” Russell said. “I feel like he’ll be a real hard guy to catch. I feel like he’s been doing well. He’s really impressed me in the past two scrimmages and in practice.”

Can’t see Willis starting in the 2017 opener Sept. 2 against Georgia Southern, but spring games are tailor made for dual-threat quarterbacks. Wearing that orange jersey, they can scramble, run and not worry about getting hit.

So Willis is going to draw some wows from the crowd, but all eyes will be on Stidham to see if he looks like the missing piece for Auburn to win the SEC.

“I’m still the new guy here and I’m trying to step up and be a leader as fast as possible but it comes with time to gain the trust of the guys on the team,” Stidham said last week. “It’s about doing the little things that will stand out. It’s just taking it day by day.”